Magnetic counter

ABSTRACT

A magnetic counter capable of performing addition or subtraction, or both operations at a high speed, said magnetic counter being so designed that a cycle of advancing rotation of a counting element is effected in two steps, i.e., the first half of the advancing rotation is effected by one advancing pawl and the second half of the same is effected by another advancing pawl, and said first half of the advancing rotation in a plus and a minus directions are effected by different advancing pawls respectively.

United States Patent Inventors Nagao Mlzutlnl No. 20-1 Asllllguke-Danchl, 1376-46 Sandnhlgeshicho, llachlojl-slli; Yoeltlro Shimede, 1206 Mam-lo Kimachi, Snginnmi-ku, Tokyo; Mullah Nojima, 1046 ha Itsuhlchlmaehl, Niialtarna'gun,

Tokyo, all of Japan Appl. No. 802,055 Filed Feb. 25, 1969 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 MAGNETIC COUNTER 4 Chins, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 235/92 C, 235/1 C, 235/92 EV, 235/92 R, 340/376 Int. Cl. G06|n 1/10, 606m 3/14 Field oi Search 235/92 (1), 92 (66), 1.3

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,471 8/1960 Laboissiere Primary Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Gnuse Attorney-Hall, Pollock & Vande Sande ABSTRACT: A magnetic counter capable of performing addition or subtraction, or both operations at a high speed, said magnetic counter being so designed that a cycle of advancing rotation of a counting element is effected in two steps, i.e., the first half of the advancing rotation is effected by one advancing pawl and the second half of the same is efl'ected by another advancing pawl, and said first half of the advancing rotation in a plus and a minus directions are efl'ected by different advancing pawls respectively.

MAGNETIC COUNTER The present invention relates to a magnetic counter which is operable at a high-counting speed and capable of addition or subtraction, or both operations.

With conventional magnetic counters of the type described, the counting speed could not be raised beyond a certain limit. For instance, one of the conventional magnetic counters designed for high-speed counting is capable of counting at a speed on the order of about 50 cycles per second at highest. In addition, such a magnetic counter has the disadvantages that the power consumption required for operation is great, that the counter is capable of counting only in one direction, i.e., in either a plus or minus direction, and incapable of counting in both directions singly, the that the zero-set mechanism is complicated and requires a large force for operation. The counter has further drawbacks that, since carrying a figure upwardly and downwardly are controlled wholly by mechanical means, with the accompanying result that the noise is large, that the number of figures cannot be changed as desired and that in case the order of a desired numeral is higher than the first order, it can not be placed at the desired place without counting operations for the numerals of the lower order.

An object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed magnetic counter which is so designed that a high-counting speed can be obtained with a minimum power consumption and minimum inertia of the moving parts by effecting about a half pitch of a cycle of advancing rotation constituting the first half pitch of the rotation by an advancing pawl and about another half pitch of the rotation constituting the second half of said rotation by another pawl respectively.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic counter which is singly capable of counting in both a plus and a minus direction and which comprises a pawl for effecting about a half pitch of a cycle of advancing rotation constituting the first half of the rotation in a plus direction, a pawl for effecting about a half pitch of the advancing rotation constituting the first half of the rotation in a minus direction, and a common pawl for effecting about another half pitch of the advancing rotation constituting the second half of the rotation in the plus or minus direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic counter of the character described above, which is provided with means for disengaging the pawl for effecting the second half pitch of the advancing rotation from a counting pawl wheel so as to facilitate zero-setting of the counter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic counter of the character described above, which is provided with preset means for causing an advancing rotation of the pawl wheel mechanically by a simple mechanism making use of a deflection of leaf spring and thereby for counting a given number at any place.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic counter of the character described above, which is provided with signal generating means by which the rotational load in the second half of the advancing rotation is mitigated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unit magnetic counter of the character described above, said unit magnetic counter being electrically connected in parallel relation to other same units for counting numbers of any figures.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic counter of the character described above, which is so designed that a signal is generated when the cycles of counting have reached a predetermined value.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the explanations for one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the counter according to the present invention, wherein the casing is removed forexposing the interior;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the counter, in which said casing is partially broken away to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 3 is a developed perspective view showing the constituent elements of the counter;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the counter shown in FIG. I, with the dial plate removed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a plus counting solenoid, a minus counting solenoid and the magnetic circuits thereof;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing an advancing mechanism of the counter;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a signal originating mechanism of the counter;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a zero-set mechanism of the counter;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a preset mechanism of the counter; and

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a three-unit magnetic counter according to the present invention.

The present invention will described by way of example hereunder:

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body of the magnetic counter is housed in a casing composed of a top cover 50, having an indication window 50A formed therein, and a box body 51. One ends of a zero-set rod 39, a preset rod 40 and a printing baseplate 49 are extending outwardly through the casing to be operated externally.

A counter, shown in FIG. 3, of the present invention includes a base block I, rotating means II, solenoid means IIIA and IIIB, shifting rocker means IVA and IVB, rocker means V, signal generating means VI, zero-set means VII and a plate having circuit elements printed thereon, and further includes preset means shown in FIGS. 2 and 9.

The base block I simultaneously serves the functions of an iron core and a yoke of a solenoid to be described later which constitutes a driving source.

The rotating means II indicates a counted number by a stepby-step operation or an advancing operation, and comprises a dial plate to indicate the counted number and pawl wheel 3 to effect the step-by-step operation.

The solenoid means IIIA and IIIB respectively constitute driving sources of the shifting rocker means IVA for plus counting and the shifting rocker means [V8 for minus counting, and perform the function of converting electric energy into mechanical energy.

The shifting rocker means IVA drive the aforesaid rotating means upon receiving energy from the driving source and thereby to effect the first half of the step-by-step operation for plus counting. The shifting rocker means IVB is adapted to drive the rotating means upon receiving energy from the driving source and thereby to effect the first half of a cycle of minus counting operation.

The rocker means V is provided to effect the second half of a cycle of advancing operation of the rotating means II successively after completion of the first half of the operation by the shifting rocker means IVA or IVB.

The signal originating means VI is adapted to originate an upward carrying signal when the counted number indicated by the rotating means II is shifted from 9 to 0 (in plus counting) and a downward carrying signal when the counted number is shifted from 0 to 9 (in minus counting).

The zero-set means VII is provided to return the indication of the rotating means II to 0 mechanically (refer to FIG. 2).

The preset means serves to mechanically operate the rotating means II to indicate a counted number (refer to FIGS. 2 and 9).

The printed plate carries thereon the input terminals of the solenoids IIIA and IIIB, and the output terminal of the signal generating means VI.

Now, the structure of the respective means mentioned above will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

Structure of the base block I A spacer plate 8, an inner core plate 9 and an outer core plate 10, which are made of magnetic materials and juxtaposed in the order mentioned, are placed on the underside of a supporting plate 7 of nonmagnetic material and fastened thereto by means of two rivets to form a unitary piece. The spacer plate 8 is composed of two plate members joined integrally with each other. A bush 12 is extended through the plates 7, 8, 9 and 10, and jewel bearing 13A and 13B are disposed at the opposite ends of said bush 12. The supporting plate 7 has a shaft 34 erected thereon for a biasing lever 36 and a shaft 29 for a pawl lever 27. The block body composed of the aforesaid plates is connected to a baseplate 6 of magnetic material by welding to form the base block I. The baseplate 6 is provided with bushes 211A and 213 for mounting respective ring springs 20A and 20B, and a zero-set shaft 30.

Structure of the rotating means ll A main shaft has a cam 4, a pawl wheel 3 having 10 teeth, and a boss 2 fixedly mounted thereon in the order mentioned. A dial plate 1 with numerals O to 9 marked on the outer peripheral surface thereof is fixed on the boss 2. The main shaft 5 is rotatably supported by the jewel bearings 13A and 138 (the jewel bearing 13A only being shown in FIG. 3) in the bush 12 which is fixed centrally of the above-described base block I. The lower end of the shaft 5 is secured by a stop ring El so that it will not move of the jewel bearing 1313. Thus, it will be understood that the main shaft 5 is rotatable integrally with the cam 4, the pawl wheel 3 and the dial plate 1, while being supported by jewel bearings 13A and B3B.

Structure of the plus-counting solenoid HM and the minuscontaining solenoid lllB A bobbin 23A having a plus-counting coil 241A wound thereon and a bobbin 233 having a minus-counting coil 24B wound thereon are respectively mounted on projections 9A, 10A and 9B, 108 formed at the opposite ends of the inner core plate Q and the outer core plate 10, composing the block of the base block I. These bobbins 23A and 23B are prevented from moving off the respective projections by pole pieces 25A and 25B fixed to the outer ends of said projections by welding. The pole pieces 25A and 258 respectively constitute attractive magnetic poles of the plus-counting solenoid IIIA and the minus-counting solenoid lllB.

As may be clear from the foregoing description, the projections 9A, 10A and 98, 10B of the inner core plate 9 and the outer core plate 110 correspond to the core of a solenoid, and the spacer plate 8 and the baseplate 6 correspond to the yoke. Thus, the plus-counting solenoid IA and the minus-counting solenoid lllB are respectively capable of forming a magnetic path J for plus counting and a magnetic path K for minus counting, shown in FIG. 5.

Structure of shifting rocker means [VA for plus counting and the shifting rocker means IVB for minus counting The shifting rocker means lVA has an armature 14A which is arranged in confronting relation to the attractive magnetic pole 25A of the above-described plus-counting solenoid [MA to be attracted thereby. The armature MA has a lever MA fixed at one end thereof. The lever 16A is provided with a shifting pawl 18A, a plus-counting release arm 119A and a bush 52A by which the ring spring for plus counting is secured. Namely, the shifting rocker means [VA is composed of the lever 16A, the pawl 18A, the arm 19A and the bush 52A. The armature 14A has two rectangular holes A for loosely receiving two corresponding projections 6A formed at the right end edge fA of the baseplate 6. Thus, the armature 14A is rockable about the end edge fA of the base plate 6. The ends of the ring spring 20A are respectively received in the bushes 21A and 52A. The ring spring 20A tends to expand in a direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 4, thereby shifting the armature MA about the aforesaid fulcrum, that is, the right end edge of the baseplate 6, in a direction to move away from the attractive magnetic pole 25A of the solenoid means lllA when said solenoid'means is demagnetized.

The rocking movement of the armature MA is limited by the engagement of the lever MA with a bent lug 7cof the plate 7 The lever 16A and the pawl wheel 3 are so arranged that the armature 14A is pivotably connected to the baseplate 6 at one end, as described above, and the shifting pawl llfiA formed at the other end of the lever 16A connected to the armature MA engages the pawl wheel 3 of the rotating means ll.

The pawl wheel 3, as shown in FIG. 6, is provided with 10 equally spaced radial teeth along the periphery thereof at a central angle of 36 in FIG. 6, only'some of these teeth, indicated by numeral 3A 3D are shown for convenience in explanation. The tip end of each of these teeth forms a sharp edge defined by two diverging surfaces F3 and F4 in parallel to the axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3. The pawl 18A is shaped and arranged such that, when the pawl 18A is located between adjacent two teeth to drive the pawl wheel 3, one side surface fll of the pawl 18A, extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3, is in close contact with a side surface F5 of one of said teeth 3A and a tapered surface f3 on the opposite side of said pawl 18A is in close contact with a side surface F11 of another one of the teeth 38. The pawl 18A also has a tapered surface f2 on the same side as the aforesaid side surface f1 and these two tapered surface f2 and fl intersect to define a wedge shape. In the arrangement described above, a straight line 11 passes through the crossing line of a plane including the side surface fl and a plane including the tapered surface f3, and through the axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3. A straight line [2 passes through the crossing line of the surfaces F3 and F4 and through said axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3. Said lines Ill and [2 define a predetermined angle Pl therebetween. The pawl 18A is arranged relative to the pawl wheel 3 in such a manner that the pawl 18A is located between the adjacent teeth to drive the pawl wheel 3 and the line of contact between the plane including the side surface fl of the pawl 18A and the tapered surface 13 is located in the straight line 11.

The pawl NB is arranged and shaped in exactly the same manner as the pawl 18A described above. The positions of the pawl 18A is determined such that a straight line B passing through the crossing line of the tapered surfaces f2 and 13 of the pawl 18A and through the axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3, and straight line 12 define a predetermined angle P2. A pawl 26 of the rocking means V has tapered surfaces f5 and f6 on both sides thereof. The pawl 18A is in a specific arrangement relative to the pawl 26. Namely, the angle P1 is formed on the side of the straight line 12 which side is remote from the axial line yof the pawl 26. Said axial line ypasses through the pawl edge, i.e., the crossing line of the tapered surfaces 15 and f6 of said pawl 26 and through the axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3. The angle P2 is formed on the side of the straight line 12 which side is closer to the straight line y.The position of the pawl 188 relative to the pawl 26 is the same as described above.

A leaf spring 22A is disposed externally of the armature MA, which urges said armature in the direction of the arrow D, shown in FIG. at a portion adjacent the pivoted edge of the armature, so as to maintain the pivotal connection between said armature and the baseplate 6. The leaf spring has an L-shape and is secured at one side to the backface of the baseplate. The other side of the leaf spring, which is flexed at about to said one side and integral therewith, is located opposite to the armature MA. This side of the leaf spring has an E-shaped configuration, with the central strip acting as a leaf spring. The central strip is provided with a projection 22Al at portion adjacent the outer end thereof, through which said strip urges the armature MA as described above.

The structure of the shifting rocker means [V8 for minus counting is exactly the same as that of the shifting rocker means lVA for plus counting described above and, therefore, will not be described herein. The description provided above relating to the shifting rocker means for plus counting is applicable to the shifting rocker means for minus counting as such when character A sufiixed to the reference numerals of the respective component parts is replaced by character B.

Structure of the rocker means V in completing one cycle of step-by-step movement of the pawl wheel 3 in the present counter, the second half of said cycle is effected by the pawl 26. The pawl 26 is adhesively fixed to a lever 27 having a U-shaped cross section. The lever 27 is constantly biased to rotate in a clockwise direction about the shaft 29 by the biasing force of a spring 28 which is loosely mounted on said shaft 29. The shaft '29 is secured upwardly to the plate 7 of the base block l as described previously. Therefore, when the shifting rocker means IVA for plus counting and the shifting rocker means IVB for minus counting are not in motion, the lever 27 is not bound by either the plus-counting release arm 19A or the minus-counting release arm [98 and the pawl 26 is held in engagement with the pawl wheel 3 of the rotating means 1 as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 6. When the lever 27 is located in the farthest position from the pawl wheel 3 under restraint of either the release arm 19A or 198, the pawl 26 takes a position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6. The shaft 29 is located in a position to satisfy a certain condition, i.e., the condition under which a line connecting the tip end of the pawl 26 in the position of the solid lines with the tip end of the pawl in the position of the two-dot chain lines in aligned with the aforesaid line y. As described above, the pawls 18A, 18B and 26, and the pawl wheel 3 are shaped in the specific configurations respectively and arranged under the specific conditions.

The angle P1 is defined by the intersection of the surfaces fl and f3 of the pawl 18A, the axis of the main shaft 5 and the tip end of the tooth 3A of the pawl wheel 3, as shown in FIG. 6. The tip end of the tooth 3A of the pawl wheel 3 is located closer to the line ythan the intersection of the surfaces fl and [3. The line ypasses through the center of rotation of the pawl wheel 3. The angle P2 is defined by the intersection of the surfaces 13 and 12 of the pawl 18A, the axis of rotation of the pawl wheel 3 and the tip end of the tooth 3A. The intersection of the surfaces f3 and f2 is located closer to the line ythan the tip end of the tooth 3A. The angle formed by the surfaces fl and [3 is selected such that the pawl 18A can be inserted between the teeth 3A and 38, like a wedge, when said pawl 18A is rocked. The crossing line of the tapered surfaces f5 and f6 of the pawl 26 is located in the line y when said pawl 26 is in engagement with the teeth 3C and 3D of the pawl wheel 3. Under such condition, the line 12 and the line y define an angle of 18.

Structure of the signal originating means VI A rotary contact 43 is fixed to the lower end 5A of the main shaft 5 so as to rotate together with said main shaft 5, said rotary contact 43 being provided with projections 43A and 438 at the opposite sides but disposed at axially different positions from one another. A plate 47 is fixed to the projecting end of the bush 12. This plate 47 is secured to the plate by means of a screw and has bent lugs 47B and 47C. As shown in FIG. 7, resilient contact plates 44 and 45, and supporting mates 46A and 46B, are put together at each one end and secured to the plate 47 respectively. These resilient contact plates 44 and 45 are preloaded by means of the hooked portions of said respective supporting mates 46A and 463. The supporting mates 46A and 46B are secured to the bent lugs 47B and 47C by means of an electrically insulating adhesive 47E and 47F respectively. The tip ends of the contact plates 44 and 45 are bent to form contact portions 445 and 458 respectively. The arrangement is such that the contact portions 448 and 458 respectively contacts the projections 43A and 438 during one revolution of the rotary contact 43.

A line 0-0 shown in FIG. 7 is located in the same plane as the line y shown in FIG. 6. A line connecting the center of the convexed curvature of the curved contact portion 448 with the center of the convexed curvature of the curved contact portion 458 and passing through the center 0 is also located in the same plane as the line y. lt is noted that the location of the pawl 26 is at the lower side in relation to the horizontal centerline in H6. 7.

A line l5 passing through the tip ends of the projections 43A and 438, in the solid line positions shown in FlG. 7, of the rotary contact 43 and through the axis of rotation 0 defines an angle of 18 with the line 0-0 when the dial plate 1 is in a position of indicating numeral 9. It will, therefore, be seen that the line is located in the same plane as the line 12 shown in FIG. 6. The rotary contact 43 fixed to the main shaft 5 and the plate 47 fixed to the plate 10 are made to establish the foregoing relation.

Structure of the zero-set means Vll A zero-set lever 33 having a boss 32 is rotatably mounted on a zero-set shaft 30 projecting from the baseplate 6. A zero-set spring 31 is loosely mounted on the boss 32, biasing the lever 33 to rotate in the opposite direction of the arrow 33ashown in FlG. 2. A biasing lever 36 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 34 projecting from the supporting plate 7. A release spring 35 is loosely 'mounted on a boss (not shown) on the underside of the lever 36. The spring 35 has one end 35C thereof anchored to the plate 6. A portion of the spring 35 is flexed as shown by 35A and hooked on a projection 36E of the lever 36, whereby the'spring is preloaded. The end extremity 35B of the spring 35 is located in such a position as will be able to push a bent lug 27A (indicated by the broken line in FIG. 8) of the lever 27. The preload of the spring 35 is greater than the biasing force of the spring 28.

A spring 37 is loosely mounted about a boss 368 formed on the upper surface of the lever 36, of which one end is anchored to the plate 6, thereby biasing the lever 36, of which one end is anchored to the plate 6, thereby biasing the lever 36 to rotate in a clockwise direction. A ring 38 is fitted on the shaft 34 to prevent the spring 37 from moving off the boss 368. Further, a stop ring E2 is fitted on the shaft 34 to prevent spring 35, the lever 36, the spring 37 and the ring 38 from moving off said shaft.

The lever 33 is formed with a notch 33A for engagement with a projection 36D of the lever 36. The biasing force of the spring 31 is stronger than that of the spring 37, so that the lever 36 is urged to rotate in counterclockwise direction at the projection 36D and held in position in contact with the bent lug 7C of the plate 7. The lever 36 is also formed with a semicircular projection 36A which is adapted to be in pressure contact with the cam surface of the cam 4 upon rotation of said lever 36 in the direction of the arrow 360 shown in FIG. 8. The arrangement is such that when the semicircular projection 36A of the lever 36 is reset in a recess 4' of the cam 4 a numeral 0" on the dial plate 1 is exposed into the indicating position, like the arrangements of conventional zero-set devices. The zero-set rod 39, as shown in FIG. 2, is extending through a bush 50C provided on the underside of the cover 50, with the lower end thereof being held in contact with an edge of the lever 33.

Structure of the preset means This means is shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. Referring to FIG. 9, a preset spring 41 has its lower end received in a V-shaped concave 51V defined by an annular projection 518 on the bottom wall of the box body 51. The upper end of the spring 41 is received in a slit 40A formed in the preset rod 40 and secured therein by means of a pin 42. The rod 40 extends outwardly of the casing through a bush 508 provided on the underside of the cover 50. When the rod 40 is depressed in the direction of the arrow 400, the preset spring 41 is deflected in the direction of the arrow 41a. In this case, the flank of the deflected spring 41 pushes the armature 14A of the means lVA, thus causing a rocking motion of said means WA. The printed plate 49 is provided with terminals :1, t2, t3, t4 and :5. The tenninals t1 and t2 are electrically connected to the terminals 24Al and 24A2 of the coil 24A of the solenoid means 111A, and the terminals t2 and :3 to the terminals 2481 and 2482 of the coil 24B of the solenoid means lllb respectively. The terminals 24A2 and 2481 are connected commonly. The terminals :4 and 15 are electrically connected to the terminals 44A and 45A of the contacts 44 and 45 of the signal originating means Vl respectively. Thus, the printed plate 49 forms an electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 within the two-dot chain line. The printed plate 49 is fixed to the plate 10 together with a casing 48 of the signal originating means by means of screws, after connecting it to said casing.

The present invention will be further described with reference to FIG. 10 which is a circuit diagram of a magnetic counter system assembled with three sets of the present counter for counting numbers of three figures.

In FIG. 10, Sol. 2 $01.2 and 501.3 correspond to three sets of the solenoid IIIA, and $01.11 Sol.2 and Sol.3 correspond to three sets of the solenoid IIIB. Reference symbol SW designates a plus-minus switching device, and El, E2 and E3 respectively designate diodes which permit a current to flow in a fixed direction therethrough the thereby prevent erroneous operation of the switch SW.

Reference symbol PS designates a switch to originate an input signal for the counter system, and CS.]l, CS.2 and CS3 respectively designate signal originating'switches for the individual counters which are set for counting the first figure, the second figure and the third figure respectively. With reference, for example, to the switch CS.2, a contact 55 corresponds to the contact portion 448 of the contact plate 44 shown in FIG. 7 and a contact 56 corresponds to the contact portion 45B of the contact plate 45. Reference numeral 59 indicates a rotary contact which corresponds to the rotary contact 43 in FIG. 7. Therefore, a projection 57 of the contact 59 corresponds to the projection 43A of the rotary contact 43 and a projection 53 to the projection 43B of said rotary contact 43. Reference symbol B designates a D. C power source and A unit encircled by the two-dot chain line represents one counter.

A circuit C is connected across a common terminal of solenoids Sol. ll and So]. 2' and a terminal of the power source. This circuit is a spark quenching circuit of the type known in the art and serves to release a surge current occurring upon interruption of a current flowing through solenoid Sol. or Sol. 2. Namely, the circuit C protects the contact of the switch PS from spark discharge. Likewise, diodes D2 and D3 protect the switches CS.ll and CS.2 respectively from spark discharge. The diode D2 is connected across a common terminal of the solenoids Sol.2 and Sol. 2 and the terminal of the power source, while the diode D is connected across a common terminal of the solenoids Sol. 3. and Sol. 3", and the terminal of the power source.

The structure of the casing, shown in FIG. 2, will be described hereunder:

The casing is composed of the cover 50 and the box body 51. The counter shown in FIG. it is housed in the box body 51 under the following condition: Namely, the base block I shown in FIG. 3 is pressed against the backwall of the box body Sll and the printed plate 49 is mounted on the projections formed on the bottom wall of the box body 5i, said projections being indicated at 51D and 51B in FIG. 9 The zero-set shaft 3%) fixed to the baseplate 6 is provided with a threaded hole as shown in FIG. 7, by means of which the counter assembled as described previously is fixedly mounted in the box body 51. The wall, at the diagonally opposite comers, is formed with threaded holes to engage with screws by which the cover 50, provided with the indication window 50A and the bushes 50C and 50B, is secured to the box body.

Next, the advancing rotation of the counter mechanism will be explained. One cycle of the advancing rotation consists of a slightly more than half pitch (l8+lll) revolution and stoppage of the pawl wheel 3 caused by the pawl 18A or 188, shown in FIG. 3, and a slightly less than half pitch (l8Pll) revolution and stoppage of said pawl wheel caused by said pawl 26. One advancing rotation of the pawl wheel 3 is accomplished by these two steps of the advancing revolution and stoppage of the pawl wheel. In describing the plus counting operation with reference to FIG. 6, when a current is not flowing through the coil 24A, the pawl ll8A is held stationary in symmetrical relation to the pawl 1188 with respect to a plane including the line y shown in FIG. 6, which connects the center of the pawl 26 in engagement with the pawl wheel 3 with the center of the main shaft 5. The lever 27 is biased by the spring 28 to rotate in a clockwise direction, without being restrained by the release arms 119A and 19B, and held in engagement with the pawl wheel 3 to hold said wheel 3 in the position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 6.

When a current is conducted through the coil 24A, a magnetic path I is formed as shown in FIG. 5. Consequently, the armature MA is attracted by the magnetic pole 25A and makes a pivotal movement about the edge fA, shown in FIG. 4, against the biasing force of the ring spring 20A. The pivotal movement of the armature MA in turn causes a pivotal movement of the lever MA, so that the release arm 29A pushes the backwall of the lever 27 causing said lever to rotate in a counterclockwise direction against the biasing force of the spring 23. Thus, the pawl 26 is released from engagement with the pawl wheel 3. As soon as the engagement is released, the pawl 18A is brought into engagement with the pawl wheel 3 causing said pawl wheel to rotate slightly more than half pitch (l8+ P1) in the direction of the arrow 3ashown in FIG. 6 and then stops the pawl wheel 3 in that position. When the armature 14A is attracted by the magnetic pole 25A, the ring spring 20A is deformed into a smaller diameter and the spring 28 is also deformed against the resilient force thereof. When the ring 20 is released from the deformation, the armature 14A resumes its original position. The spring 28 is returned to its original state upon interruption of the current supply to the coil 24A and, by the return movement of the spring 28 the pawl wheel 3 is revolved the remaining pitch, that is, slightly less than half pitch (18Pll). The annature 14A is released from the magnetic pole 25A and returned to its original position by the resilient force stored in the ring spring 20A.

The lever 27 is released from the release arm 19A at the same time when the pawl 18A is disengaged from the pawl wheel 3, and pivoted in a clockwise direction by the resilient force stored in the spring 28. The pawl 26 is brought into engagement with the pawl wheel 3 to advance said pawl wheel the remaining pitch (18P1), which is slightly less than half pitch, in the direction of the arrow 30 shown in FIG. 6, and stops the pawl wheel successively to hold it in that position. Thus, a complete cycle of the advancing operation is accomplished.

The conditions which are essential for the advancing rotation to be effected safely and positively, will be explained. As described before, the tip end of the pawl 18A is off-set by an angle P2 relative to the tip end of the tooth 38. Therefore, there is no case that the tip end of the pawl 18A collides against the tip end of the tooth 33 when said pawl 18A is brought into engagement with said tooth 3B. As the pawl 18A shifts in the direction of the arrow 180, the tip end of the tooth 3B (the intersection of the surfaces F3 and F4) slides on the surface f2 of the pawl 18A, causing the pawl wheel 3 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 3a.

Then, the faces fl and f3 of the pawl 18A are brought into close contact with the face F5 of the tooth 3B and the face Fl of the tooth 3A respectively, with the result that the pawl wheel 3 and the pawl ll8A are held stationary with stability. The pawl wheel 3 is caused to make an advancing rotation by the pawl 18A or 188 as stated above, but preferably the pawl 26 is not completely moved away from between the teeth 3C and 3D of the pawl wheel in the initial stage of engagement between the pawl 18A or 1.85 with the tooth 3A or 3B. This is because the rotation of the pawl wheel should always be controlled by any one of the pawls 18A, 18B and 26. According to the present invention, the timing of movements of these pawls relative to each other can be controlled easily during assembly since the pawls are individually operated by separate operating members.

Next, the pawl 26 is advanced under the biasing force of the spring 28 and engages the tooth 3D at the same time when the current supply to the solenoid 24A is interrupted and the lever 16A is returned to its original position under the influence of the ring spring 20A. By suitably selecting the combination of the angle defined by the face F5 of a tooth and the face F! of the adjacent tooth of the pawl wheel 3 and the angle defined by the faces fl and f3 of the pawl 18A, bouncing of the pawl 18A occum'ng when said pawl ltllA has stopped the pawl wheel 3 can be prevented.

The tooth 3D is set in a position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6. (When the pawl 18B is moved in the direction of the arrow 18b, said pawl engages the tooth 38 causing the pawl wheel 3 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 3b. Therefore, the tooth 3D is set in a position symmetrical with the position indicated by the two-dot chain line with respect to the line y). In this position of the tooth 3D, the angle Pl defined by a line 14 connecting the line of contact between the faces F3 and F4 of the tooth 3D with the center of rotation, and the aforesaid line y,is significant for the second half of the rotation of the pawl wheel 3 caused by the pawl 26, which will be described later.

If the angle Pl defined by the line (4 and y is zero, that is to say if the pawl 18A rotates the pawl wheel 3 only a half pitch (18), the lines 14 and y are aligned with each other and the tip end (the crossing line of the faces 15 and [6) of the pawl 26 collides against the tip end (the crossing line of the faces F3 and F4) of the tooth 30, therefore said pawl 26 cannot rotate the pawl wheel 3.

In view of this, the first half of one advancing rotation of the pawl wheel 3, caused by the pawl 18A must be an angle of 18' Pl as stated previously. Namely, the angle defined by the line passing through the tip end of the pawl 26 and the center of rotation, and through the line y must be Pl. Therefore, the pawl 26 rotates the pawl wheel 3 through an angle of 18-P1 in the direction of the arrow 3:: during the process of engagement with the tooth 3D. (When the tooth 3D is set by the pawl 188 in a position symmetrical with the position indicated by the two-dot chain line with respect to the line y,the pawl wheel 3 is rotated through an angle of 18-P1in the direction of the arrow 3b.)

As will be clear from the foregoing description, the angle Pl defined by the lines 14 and [2 always coincides with the angle Pl defined by the lines [4 and y. This angle P1 plays an important role in the signal generating action to be described later.

The operation of the zero-set means will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 8. When the rod 39 is depressed externally in the direction of the arrow 39ashown in FIG. 2, the lever 33 is rotated about the shaft 30 in the direction of the arrow 33a. The point of engagement between the projection 36D of the lever 36 and the notch 33A of the lever 33 is, therefore, displaced, whereby the lever 36 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 36a. The tip end 358 of the release spring 35 pushes the flexed portion 27A of the lever 27 causing said lever 27 to rotate counterclockwise, before the semicircular projection 36A of the lever 36 is brought into contact with the earn 4.

In this case, the lever 27 rotates smoothly because the preload of the release spring 35 is greater than the biasing force of the spring 28 as stated previously. Consequently, the pawl wheel 3 is released from engagement with the pawl 26 and rendered rotatable. Thereafter, the semicircular projection 36A is brought into contact with the cam 4 causing said cam 4 to rotate to a stopping position.

The operation of the preset means will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 9. When the rod 40 is depressed in the direction of the arrow 40a shown in FIG. 2, the spring 41 is deflected in the direction of the arrows 41a shown in FIG. 9 and thereby the armature 14A is caused to make a pivotal movement as in the case when current is conducted through the coil 24A. The pawl wheel 3 is rotated one count in a plus direction at each time the rod 40 is depressed manually, as stated in the preceding description on the advancing rotation. Therefore, by employing the present means, the indication of any magnetic counter in the magnetic counter system, represented by the circuit diagram of FIG. and adapted for counting numbers of three figures, can be changed mechanically. By combining the preset means with the signal generating means of the magnetic counter system for counting a number of three figures, a preset counter system can be provided which is capable of generating a signal when a desired number has been countered.

First of all, a number smaller by one than a desired number is set by shifting the indications of the respective three mag netic counters by the preset means. For instance, if a desired number is 352, numeral 3 is set at the third figure, 5 at the second figure and 1 at the first figure. Then, the switch SW is lll switched so as to bring its movable contact into contact with the minus terminal, whereupon the system starts counting. The indication of the three-unit magnetic counter system is changed to Fidllfldll, llltl-as the counting proceeds, and finally all of the dial plates of the three-unit magnetic counters indicate zero. Upon further counting l in a minus direction, all of the dial plates of the three-unit magnetic counters indicate 9. At this time, the signal generating switch CS3 of the magnetic counter for counting the third figure is closed and opened, generating a signal indicating the completion of counting.

Next, the operation of the signal generating means will be explained. When the indication of the dial plate 1 is shifted from 9 to 0 in a plus counting or from 0 m9 in a minus counting, a signal is generated for causing the magnetic counter for counting the adjacent higher order to count 1 in a plus or minus direction. The signal originating operation for plus counting and that for minus counting differ from each other only in the rotating direction of the dial plate 1, therefore the signal generating operation for plus counting only will be described hereunder.

The projections 43A and 43B of the rotary contact 43, shown in FIG. 3, respectively contact the contact portions 448 and 45B of the contact plates 44 and 45 only once during one revolution of said rotary contract 43. When numeral 9 is indicated by the dial plate l, the rotary contact is in a position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7. Then, the rotary contact 43 is rotated in the direction of the arrow h shown in FIG. 7, incident to the clockwise rocking of the lever 16A (see FIG. 4) upon energization of the solenoid 24A.

Since the pawl MA rotates the pawl wheel 3 through an angle of lil-l-Pll as mentioned above, the rotary contact 43 stops in a position in which the line 15 passing the tip ends of the projections 43A, 43B of the contact 43 and the center of rotation ti, and the line 01-02 define an angle of PI. Namely, the projections 43A and 43B of the rotary contact 43 respectively stops in positions which are the angle Pl beyond the centers of curvatures of the contact portions 448 and 45B of the contact plates 44 and 45, while maintaining contact with said respective contact plates 44 and 45. Therefore, when the pawl 26 is rocked, upon interruption of the current supply to the coil 24A, under the biasing force of the spring 28, the spring 28 is not loaded with the force required to cause the projections 43A and 43B of the rotary contact 43 to slide on the converted surfaces of the respective contact portions 448 and 45B of the contact plates 44 and 45. Conversely, the biasing force of the spring 28 is increased by the resilient forces of the contact plates 44 and 45. Namely, in originating a signal the part of the movements of advancing mechanism, which part needs the largest force for the operation, is carried out by the pawl having an actuating force greater than said largest force.

Signals from the contacts are electrically transmitted in the following manner: with reference to FIG. 10, which is a circuit diagram of a counter system comprising threeunit counters of the present invention arranged in parallel for counting numbers of three FlGS. In this arrangement, at first the movable contact arm of a switch SW should be contacted with the contact of the plus side for flowing electric currents through only the solenoids Sol. 1*", Sol. 2 and Sol. 3*. When the switch SW has been positioned into the above status, if the switch PS is actuated, the current will flow through the solenoid Sol. 1*. Thus, the solenoid Sol. ll moves the armature cooperating with said solenoid Sol. l to performing the half part of one counting operation. Then, when the switch PS has been released, the current flowing through the solenoid Sol. 1 is interrupted, so that the solenoid Sol. 1* may be deenergized. According to the deenergization, the remaining half operation of counter will be performed. As above, one cycle of counting is completed. The switch PS is operated by times corresponding to the number same as a number to be countered. This switch PS may be a conventional switch used for a counter generally, such as a microswitch or a relay switch. According to the number of times the switch PS is operated, the same number of signals is generated. When the indication of the magnetic counter of the first figure is changed from 9 to 0, the switch CS. l of said magnetic counter is closed and then opened again, so that the current is supplied to the solenoid Sol. 2 and then is interrupted. The magnetic counter for the second figure, makes one advancing rotation in a plus direction. As regards the third figure, the magnetic counter for said figure similarly makes one advancing rotation in a plus direction incident to the operation of the switch CS. 2. For counting a number in a minus direction, the switch SW is closed on the minus side and thereafter the counting is effected in the same manner as described above to indicate the complement of the number counted. For instance, when numeral 125 is counted from numeral 1123 indicated in minus direction, the resultant indication will be 9%.

As will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, according to the present invention the first half of an advancing rotation is effected by the first pawl and the second half thereof by the second pawl in two steps, whereby the inertia of the first and second pawl holding members can be minimized.

The first pawl and the second pawl have to operate in relation of the fixed time. However, according to the present invention, the operating member of the first pawl and the operating memlnr of the second pawl are not connected directly. Accordingly, it may be possible that the second pawl does not disengage from the pawl wheel at the same time as the engagement of the first pawl with the pawl wheel. There is such condition in the operations of said pawls that both pawls together engage with said pawl wheel, that is, a time lag exists between the engaging operation of the first pawl to the pawl wheel and disengaging operation of the second pawl from said pawl wheel.

The existence of the time lag makes it possible to restrict controllably the movement of the pawl wheel. Therefore, the movement and operation of the pawl wheel are accurate, so that miscounting can be prevented. The present invention is particularly advantageous in that the advancing action of the cooperating pawl can be designed to interfere with the action of the advancing pawl and, therefore, a positive advancing action and a higher counting speed can be obtained. The dial plate is set free and returned to zero indication easily, only by disengaging the second pawl. Further, by the common use of the second pawl it is possible to obtain a magnetic counter, capable of both plus and minus countings, without sacrificing the counting speed. Still further, according to the invention the influence of a load required for signal generating action can be made extremely small.

By using the present counter as a unit counter for counting one figure and connecting a large number of such counters in parallel relation, a magnetic counter system can be obtained which is operable with an input signal of very small power and capable of high-speed counting, both in a plus and a minus directions, of numbers of large figures. The experiment has revealed that the counter is capable of counting at a speed of 90 cycles per second with an input signal of 0.5 watt. The magnetic counter of this invention has many other advantages which are not possessed by the conventional ones, i.e., that any numeral can be set at any figure by the function of the preset means and that the completion of a predetermined number of countings can be indicated by a signal originated by the signal originating means of the unit counter for the highest figure.

We claim:

ll. A magnetic counter of the type which is capable of indicating a counted value comprising; a dial plate member for indicating a numeral and adapted to rotated step by step; a pawl wheel cooperating with said dial plate member and having pawls spaced from one another at selected intervals of pitch; two solenoid members constituting a driving source operative to rotate said dial plate member through said pawl wheel; two armatures driven by said solenoid members; a first advancing pawl member cooperating with one of said armatures for rotationally advancing said pawl wheel in a positive direction by one-half of the pawl pitch of said wheel and for holding said pawl wheel after completion of said rotational advance; a second advancing pawl member cooperating with the other armature for rotationally advancing said pawl wheel in a negative direction by one-half of the pawl pitch of said wheel and for holding said pawl wheel after completion of said rotational advance; spring members for biasing said both advancing pawl members upon release of said holding and mounted on said first and second advancing pawl members; levers formed integrally with said advancing pawl members, respectively; a receiving pawl member in common relation with said advancing pawl members, said receiving pawl member being operative to hold the pawl wheel when said dial plate member is stationary and to release said holding by being engaged with the lever associated with one of said advancing pawl members to effect rotatable movement of said pawl wheel when said pawl wheel is rotated by one of the advancing pawl members in any one of said directions while rotationally advancing the pawl wheel by the other half of the pawl pitch thereof, said pawl wheel being rotatable upon release of said holding of the pawl wheel by one of the advancing pawl members after deenergization of said solenoid member; a spring member for biasing said receiving pawl member when feeding for rotationally advancing said pawl wheel; and a frame body for supporting said members.

2. A magnetic counter in which a plurality of unit magnetic counters as set forth in claim l are combined, the unit magnetic counter for the second figure being operated by the electric signal from the unit magnetic counter for the first figure, and the unit magnetic counter for No. n figure being operated by the electric signal from the unit magnetic counter for No. n-l figure, whereby said combined counters are capable of counting numbers of n figures.

3. A magnetic counter comprising a plurality of the unit magnetic counters as set forth in claim 1, said magnetic counter including means for generating an electric signal by making use of the electric signal from the carrying contact of the unit magnetic counter for the No. n figure, that is, the highest figure, when cycles of counting have reached a predetermined number.

a. The counter of claim l including a carrying rotary member adapted to be rotated by said pawl wheel member, and a carrying contact member provided on the frame structure to generate a carrying signal each time the cycles of counting have reached a predetermined numeral.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,619, 575 Dated November 9, 1971 v Nagao Mizutani, Yoshihiro Shimada, and Masamitu Nojima It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent 'and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, the name of the second inventor should read as follows:

Yoshihiro Shimada Signed and sealed this 2nd day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A magnetic counter of the type which is capable of indicating a counted value comprising; a dial plate member for indicating a numeral and adapted to rotated step by step; a pawl wheel cooperating with said dial plate member and having pawls spaced from one another at selected intervals of pitch; two solenoid members constituting a driving source operative to rotate said dial plate member through said pawl wheel; two armatures driven by said solenoid members; a first advancing pawl member cooperating with one of said armatures for rotationally advancing said pawl wheel in a positive direction by one-half of the pawl pitch of said wheel and for holding said pawl wheel after completion of said rotational advance; a second advancing pawl member cooperating with the other armature for rotationally advancing said pawl wheel in a negative direction by one-half of the pawl pitch of said wheel and for holding said pawl wheel after completion of said rotational advance; spring members for biasing said both advancing pawl members upon release of said holding and mounted on said first and second advancing pawl members; levers formed integrally with said advancing pawl members, respectively; a receiving pawl member in common relation with said advancing pawl members, said receiving pawl member being operative to hold the pawl wheel when said dial plate member is stationary and to release said holding by being engaged with the lever associated with one of said advancing pawl members to effect rotatable movement of said pawl wheel when said pawl wheel is rotated by one of the advancing pawl members in any one of said directions while rotationally advancing the pawl wheel by the other half of the pawl pitch thereof, said pawl wheel being rotatable upon release of said holding of the pawl wheel by one of the advancing pawl members after deenergization of said solenoid member; a spring member for biasing said receiving pawl member when feeding for rotationally advancing said pawl wheel; and a frame body for supporting said members.
 2. A magnetic counter in which a plurality of unit magnetic counters as set forth in claim 1 are combined, the unit magnetic counter for the second figure being operated by the electric signal from the unit magnetic counter for the first figure, and the unit magnetic counter for No. n figure being operated by the electric signal from the unit magnetic counter for No. n-1 figure, whereby said combined counters are capable of counting numbers of n figures.
 3. A magnetic counter comprising a plurality of the unit magnetic counters as set forth in claim 1, said magnetic counter including means for generating an electric signal by making use of the electric signal from the carrying contact of the unit magnetic counter for the No. n figure, that is, the highest figure, when cycles of counting have reached a predetermined number.
 4. The counter of claim 1 including a carrying rotary member adapted to be rotated by said pAwl wheel member, and a carrying contact member provided on the frame structure to generate a carrying signal each time the cycles of counting have reached a predetermined numeral. 